Daniel Alderson and Daniel Meagher on a winning roll

THE past two weeks have proven successful for riders Daniel Alderson and Daniel Meagher who won the two top-graded classes on Sunday at Frankfort Stud where the Kearney family hosted their third and final Eventing Ireland one-day event of 2021.

Alderson followed up his victory on Lux Like Cruise in the CCI2*-L at Millstreet when landing Sunday’s 24-runner EI110 on KEC Global Kuality Kat, an 11-year-old OBOS Quality 004 gelding he was competing for the fifth time since joining Chris Hunt and Brian Morrison’s Global Event Horses’ yard.

The Ian Cassells-ridden Millridge Athos led on 27.5 penalties following John Lyttle’s judging of the dressage phase followed by Alderson and KEC Global Kuality Kat (29) and the Amanda Goldsbury-partnered Finsceal Endeavour (29.3) who moved into the lead when the first pair had a fence down show jumping.

Having his first outing at this level, and just his fifth in total, the five-year-old Grand Gayle gelding Millridge Athos, dropped out of the reckoning when picking up 11.2 time penalties across the country. Alderson and Goldsbury also failed to beat the clock but, as just two seconds over the time, Alderson and KEC Global Kuality Kat took the honours on a total of 33.8 with Goldsbury finishing second on Finsceal Endeavour (34.1).

Chloe Fagan’s total of 34.7 on the third-placed Dancing Queen included 2.4 cross-country time penalties and, while Christopher Whyte managed to go clear inside the time on the final leg with LadyCraft, that six-year-old Puissance mare had lowered a pole for a three-phase total in fourth of 38.3.

Two in-a-row

For the second Sunday running, and on just their third start as a combination, Daniel Meagher and his father James’s A Classic Sportsfield won the EI110 (Open) at a Co Wexford event. Here, Meagher and the seven-year-old Mermus R gelding completed on their Clare Fitzsimons-awarded dressage score (33.3).

Behind him, Anna Maher and Jim Newsam picked up cross-country time penalties when finishing second and third on Erin (34) and Tullybee Renegade (34.6) respectively. Having his first EI starts since the end of June, Cathal Daniels withdrew the Europe-bound pair of Rioghan Rua (who led after dressage on 28.5) and LEB Lias Jewel before the final phase.

Having her first EI start since June 2018, the stylish Sophie Richards landed the 29-runner EI90 on the newcomer Trending who completed on the winning dressage score (18 penalties) he was awarded by Brona O’Mahony. Sarah Ennis was second on Heritage Laccato (19), David Raeburn finished third with Monmore Stevie (21.5) ahead of Gillian Beale King who picked up 2.4 cross-country time penalties with Merlot VDL (22.9).

Trending, who has only twice failed to be among the winners in 10 Showjumping Ireland starts, is a four-year-old gelding by Future Trend. He was bred in Co Cork by Michael Geary out of the Rineen Clover mare Teeveeny Clover.

In amateur company, former flat apprentice Amy Parsons landed the three-runner EI100 on her dressage score with The Royal Dub (28.5) who was having his third start. Owned by Joanne Quirke and her partner, jockey Gary Carroll, The Royal Dub, a six-year-old gelding by Royal Concorde, won the four-year-old working hunter class at Dublin in 2019.

Holly Conte and the five-year-old Superior Premium mare Superior Jasmin also came good on their third outing when completing on their joint-winning dressage score (29.5) in the EI90. Amy Potter had to settle for second when having two fences down show jumping on the former racehorse Tatton Cross (37.5).

Thoroughbred

An unraced thoroughbred who came good on Sunday was Dee Brennan’s seven-year-old Sir Prancealot gelding Road To Emmaus who, under the owner’s daughter, Cliodhna, landed his second successive EI110 (J) despite picking up time penalties in both jumping phases.

A fence down show jumping and a small number of cross-country time penalties didn’t stop Josh Williamson recording his seventh straight success, his third at EI110 (P) level, on Jane Hancock’s 14-year-old Tinka’s Boy gelding, Ardeo Fireman.

Niamh Kirwan marked her first outing outside pony competition with victory in the 14-strong EI100 (J) on her mother Freda’s Global Javall Gold who completed on his winning flat work mark (28.3). The seven-year-old Dutch-bred gelding by Zavall VDL was campaigned up to late July by Daniel Alderson.

Sunday was also a red-letter day for Sarah Curry who recorded her first Eventing Ireland success when landing the EI100 (P), on her dressage score, with her mother Emma’s 14-year-old roan mare, Pixie Magic.

Sarah Keane, who was a member of Ireland’s bronze medal-winning team at the European pony championships with Lon Mac Líomhtha, landed the EI90 (P) on the eventing newcomer Manusmore Trump. Owned by the rider’s mother Avril Hobson, the five-year-old I Love You Melody gelding was campaigned through the Stepping Stones league by Christine O’Donnell.

“That’s us finished for the year,” said Will Kearney, event organiser and cross-country course designer at Frankfort Stud where he also built all the fences with his father Norman. The joint-landowners spent Friday night, most of Saturday and Sunday morning spreading tankers of water over the tracks.

“One change we made for event was to move the show jumping arena, where John Doyle was the builder, into another field. This made it more central and, according to everyone I spoke to, it really added to the atmosphere.”